Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra says Lata Mangeshkar did not sit for 10 hours while recording 'Rang De Basanti' song; she insisted on flying to AR Rahman's studio in Chennai

Filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra fondly recalled witnessing the iconic collaboration between legendary composer AR Rahman and the late Lata Mangeshkar for the song ‘Luka Chuppi’ from 'Rang De Basanti'. Mehra shared that the iconic singer not only chose to travel to AR Rahman's base in Chennai to record the song but also spent days rehearsing to perfect her performance.


In a recent interview with O2India, Mehra revealed that Lata Mangeshkar rehearsed the song and asked him whether she could go to Chennai to record it. He informed her that Rahman would fly to Mumbai to record it with her, but she insisted on going to Chennai. She felt it would be nice if she went to his space for recording. He further described how she arrived three days early, went straight to the studio from the airport, and met Rahman. She listened to the song's composition and requested a cassette copy to rehearse it.

What stood out during the session was Mangeshkar’s insistence on standing while recording, despite the grueling hours it required. “When she came for the recording on the fourth day, she insisted on standing while singing the song. She began singing and jamming with Rahman. She refused to sit down for the next 8 to 10 hours and stood until the song was completed,” Mehra revealed.

Reflecting on her passing in 2022, Mehra spoke poignantly about the everlasting impact of Mangeshkar's legacy. He believes Lata has gone nowhere, as she lives forever. “She really makes you believe in immortality,” he concluded.

'Rang De Basanti' was both a critical and commercial success, earning widespread acclaim and becoming India’s official entry for the 79th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.